Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-07-21

locks up his studio when he goes out.
Can't You call another day and sect
''Oh, yes" answered Mr.. Zerubba
BEL amiably; ''but as I'm here. l may
as well tell you of the offer am will
ing to make"
Mrs. hegilp's pretty face beamed
with joy at the idea of arranging
matters with the money-lender. 1,
would be such a delightful surprise fol-
Michael Angelo when he came home
to find that that tiresome business Of
the bill of sale had been brought to a
satisfactory conclusion during his alb
sence.
"Mr. Megilp wants to get back hi:
bill of sale on this furniture?' bog an
MIR. Zerubbabel. with a circular sweep
of the hands towards the contents o,
the room.
yves" breathed peor Madge, with
. shiver. for she thought that the
odious man looked as if he would like
to carry off her household gods there
and then. All the brightness went Out
OF her face. and she grew quite pale.
"Well. of course my expenses in con.
nection with this bill have been heavy
very heavy. and my loss. if let it be
paid off at once. will be great-very
great; in fact, fiO0 will barely put me
straight." said Mr.. Zerubbabel. in a
business-fike tone THAT added to
the eco Mr.. Megilp borrowed of me
last year makes f3O0 Now, I'll make
him this offer: I'll give him a check
for f25, and send him back the bill OF
sale in consideration of his Academy
picture the big one. mind. l mean
becoming my property"
1.-The picture has been valued at
ESQ.," put in Mrs. Megilp, timidly.
''Oil. has it? By you and Mr.. Me-
Clip, suppose! Well I amt going
to give that What l have offered is
as good as f325-an uncommonly high
price. let me tell you. ma'am, for a
| picture by an unknown artist"
Every one says that my husband is
one Of the rising artists of the day"
exclaimed Mrs. Megilp. firing up.
'Oh. they all are" retorted Mr..
Zerubbabel, rising ''Still, You had
better think over my offer. and tell
Mr. Megip what l have said. I'll call
round IN day or two to ses the pict-
ure, when you can let me have . def
mite answer"
Aud Mr.. Zerubbabel took up his hat
and bowed and grinHed himself out,
leaving the indignant little woman ~
think over matters in general. and the
matter of the bill of sale in particular.
When Michael Angelo came in. she
told him of the Jews visit and the
proposition he had made.
He has changed his mind pretty
quickly" remarked Megilp. 'This
morning he would have nothing to say
to my proposal Besides E25 is very
little to get in hard cash, so shall
certainly wait for few days before /
decide. Camper promised to speak a
good word for me to dealer he
| knows"
A day or two afterwards Mr.. Abram
Levi presented himself at Megilp's
studio, and found the artist putting a
few final tonsAes to '.Chloe Counting
Her Chickens" He surveyed the
picture attentively for some minutes,
and then, farming to Michael Angelo.
he blandly offered him flOO for it
"Why, I've had the offer of as good
~ f325 for it already" exclaimed the
artist, Indignantly
Dir. Levi pricked up his ears
'.Hu}lo! somebody has got the start
Of me-" he thought, ruefully. Who
the deuce can it be?''
"Well. l don't mind giving You ESQ
for it-and perhaps you've something
else it may suit me to buy" he said.
with glance round the studio.
whats this?" he added, going up
to large picture, very handsomely
framed, bat turned with face to the
wall.
IA picture 1 sent in to Burling-
ton douse last year, but it wasn't ;sc-
cepte,i," stammered Michael Angelo.
'Humph! don't wonder. What's
the name of it?" went on the dealer.
reading the legelrd inscribed on the
frame. Margaret Mending her
Stockings" "No, that won't suit
nae; it's big. ugly thing. and shock
ingiy raw. You've done better work
! since -"
"All of which is Sold" interrupted
Mesilp, in huffed tone. "except this
little thing-'Sour Grapes
But again the dealer shook his head.
and took his stand before the easel on
which stood ''Chloe."
"I'll give you fs0O for it," he said
at last
Michael Angelo hesitated. He would
rather Levi had the picture than
Zerubbabel; but it seemed hard that
he should make no present profit out
Of this-his best work. Every penny
of the $500 would be swallowed up in
getting clear of that unfortunate bill
| of sale!